Cap and lock device for tanks



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Jam. M, 1936.

E. o. YOUNG CAP AND LOCK DEVICE FOR TANKS Filed Aug 4, 1955 [W/L 0. You/v&

Patented Jan. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application August 4,

7 Claims.

My invention relates to cap and lock devices for tanks, and more particularly to fuel tanks for internal combustion engines for vehicles.

My object is to provide a cap structure comprising lock mechanism efiicient for avoiding leakage from a fuel tank, and which is so constructed that the lock and release of the cap may Well be either manually or by tool, effectively actuated.

It is also a further object to provide strong lock means, while at the same time furnishing by pressure when understood, so that the parts are properly actuated, an effective release for the same.

The structure in which my invention is embodied, will be described with references to the drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cap and attachable lock and bolt mechanism mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the cap and lock mechanism taken in the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a similar section to that in Fig. 2, but taken in the plane indicated by the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the assembled structure taken in the plane indicated in the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Figure 5 shows a vertical section in the intake spout, and particularly showing the position of the lock slot in the inner flange;

Figure 6 is a section similar to that in Fig. 3, but in a somewhat different vertical plane;

Figure '7 is a plan view of the cap, lock and actuator for the lock, and

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of the drain plug positioned opposite the lock, parts being shown in elevation.

My present invention in use as a cap and lock device makes use of one feature of the lock mechanism shown in my former Patent No. 1,729,319, issued September 24, 1929.

It is my purpose to provide a lock device to avoid unauthorized removal of the cap from the member leading from the fuel tank of a vehicle, and at the same time make readily feasible the removal of such'cap by proper actuation of parts by proper parties either for drainage or for refilling when desired. For the above purpose, I have invented a special means for mounting a plurality of cap members, one of which is a cap device 1 having an annular flange 8 which shall have a cylindrical form, and readily fit externally of'the outer surface of a peculiar drain spout 5.

i The latter element is ofgeneral cylindrical out- 1933, Serial No. 683,638

line and will be securely attached at the end opposite said cap members, to the fuel tank, or other container on which it is desirable to use it. The end of the spout 5 receiving the cap will be flanged inwardly, in spaced relation to the main wall, at 6, as shown clearly in Fig. 5; and a bayonet slot 2| extending in a horizontal plane in said flange 6, having a level edge 22, but having the opposite edge with the characteristic inclined guide extension 23 providing a shoulder 24, for a function later to be explained.

Two of these slots 2! will be provided in the flange 6, substantially in opposed position; and the higher end of the incline 23 will lead upwardly and outwardly into a notch 25 cut out from the annular bridge 26 from the cylindrical structure of part 5 to the flange 6. A separate notch 25 will appear in each slot 2!. It will be evident that these notches will serve to permit entrance of ends of a cross member into the slots 2| from a position adjacent the bridge 26.

The peripheral structure of the cap i has an annular extended and hollow bead 9 intermediate the flange 8 and the flat cover surface of the cap I. The bead is integral with the other portions of the cap and comprises a downwardly offset surface I0, and is provided with a peripheral edge roughened at 2'1, for manual engagement thereof as shown in Fig. 1. An inner flanged cap I! will be positioned, tightly fitting within the cap 1 and having a flange very closely parallel with the flange 8, the two flanges having a common level, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 6, the plates being flexible for spring action.

The flange of part I! will take a vertical position intermediate parts 5 and 8, and a circular disc 20 is mounted beneath the inner cap I! for mounting upon the longitudinal bolt II which is integrally connected with an outer disc l4, the two contacting transverse layers of caps l and I1 having concentric openings l2, whereby the disc 20 having a slightly shorter radius than that of the inner flange E of the intake spout 5, will be mounted within the latter for some axial distance, and is integrally connected with the disc l4.

The bolt II is externally screw-threaded and extends loosely through the openings l2, though the latter are not threaded, but permit lengthwise movement therethrough. A stepped nut l3 above the upper cap I, fits into the bolt II neatly and when rotated thereabout, will result in tight fitting between the surface 26 of the bridge and the inner surface of the cap I]. The nut l3 preferably will have one surface with eight or more sides to receive a corresponding wrench thereon.

Other surfaces of the nut l3 may be manually operated to tend to actuate the nut toward or from the cap 1, and thereby lift the bolt H and other parts carried by it. Within the member 6, a transverse bar 29 is rigidly secured upon the surface of the disc 2|] remote from the caps and 1, such bar having ends extended so far beyond the periphery of the disc that they are contiguous with portions of the flange 6. The bolt II will have a concentric bolt I6 of smaller radius fixedly secured to the inner end of the bolt II, the smaller bolt being rigidly secured to said disc 29, as by welding at 3|].

It will now be seen that the threaded bolt II, the smooth bolt |6, disc 20, cross bar 29, and external disc M are substantially integral, and are movable axially of the spout 5 and caps and H, so that rotation of the nut 3 may tighten the nut against the cap 1, and thereby lift bar 29 and disc 20 forcibly against the lower end of the slot 2| and the cap I'I, respectively; or in the opposite direction, may release the parts. The said rotatable nut l3 may be operated by a wrench or in some instances manually. The cap members i and H and attached parts including the bar 29, may be removed from the intake spout when said cap members are rotated by grasping the roughened edge 21 of cap 1 until the bar ends 3| are presented to the notches 25, as will be understood.

When the tank is desired to be secured and locked after filling, the intake spout 5 being assumed to be in a general position indicated in Fig. 5, the combined cap members and attached parts are presented to the open spout 5 in the relative position approximately that shown in Fig. 2, where it is to be understood that the ends 3| of the bar 29 enter the notches 25 and from there enter the slots 2| at the ends adjacent the notches.

The nut |3 for application about the bolt II, is shown for illustration in the drawing as provided with a polygonal edge |5 having ten sides, as presented in Figs. 3, 6 and 7, though other choice of edges for the purpose may be made, for using the particular wrench preferred. The openings |2 have substantially cylindrical surfaces |9 permitting relative axial movement of the disc 20 toward or away from the intermediate cap IT. The provision of one or more pins I8 is made to secure the inner surface of the cap H, to the disc 20, and at least connected with it to prevent relative rotation of the parts l and 20.

Since the flanges I1 and 8 are tightly connected and have a common depth, I have found it advisable to secure'them against relative rotary movement, and to this end I provide one or more pins through openings 28 radially concentric as shown in Fig. 2. The disc 2!! may have sockets 32 for receiving the pins l8, to provide the connecting means between parts I! and 28, as shown in Fig. 3. In any case, the inner surface of cap adjacent the flange thereof will be positioned above the annular bridge 26 of the spout 5, and I provide a separate flexible and annular washer 33 between the parts to receive the pressure exerted by rotation of the bar 29 in said slot 2|, to avoid leakage through the caps and the spout 5; and also permits suction of air therethrough.

A drain plug 34 will be mounted in an opening 3'5 in the tank opposite the cap device 1, to

secure the metal plate 36 soldered upon the outer surface of the tank bottom, and mounting the plug 38 through the opening 35. Using a polygonal plate 31 will avoid opening the plug without using such a wrench.

Said drain plug 34 will comprise screw plug 38 for insertion in an opening 35, and secured to a disc 36 having the usual wrench polygonal plate 31.

In operation, the intake spout 5 with its spaced flange B, provides one or more bayonet slots 2| which provide the usual inclined guide edge 23 and shoulder 24, but in the flange without piercing the tube 5 one end of which will be rigidly secured to the tank used. The annulus 33 may now be mounted upon the bridge 26, or in the inner angle of the cap I1, and the parts so prepared, the caps 1--|1 with attached parts will be applied over the flange end of the spout member, the cross bar 29 presented first, and the nut 3 carried externally on the bolt The ends 3| of the bar will enter the notches 25, and after the nut 3 has been loosened sufficiently upon the bolt entering finally the slots 2|. Relative rotation of the cap members 1 and I! by grasping the roughened edge about the spout member, the ends will be lowered from the notches into the slots 2| until the bottom edges 22 are reached which permits the ends, while being lightly guided by the edges 23, to reach the slot ends having the shoulders 24, after which the contour of the slot ends permits lifting the bar ends thereinto. screwing the nut I3 tightly on the bolt, now presses the cap member l1 downward against the bridge 26 and the washer 33 is tightened to avoid unnecessarily any leakage out of the spout member. Tighten ing of the nut I3 will secure the caps in proper position, and the shoulders 24 prevent rotation of the caps while the nut is being tightened.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, that I provide an improved detachable cap mechanism together with mechanical construction requiring a particular manipulation of parts for securing the cap structure on the intake spout, and holding it thereon until it is suitably manipulated to release the cap device, when it is desired to remove the same.

It is now clear that two parts I3 and 21 will require relative movement, to secure the caps on the spout 5, or to release said parts, so that when once the caps are secured, a familiarity with the manner of operating the device will be necessary for proper operation. The rotation of the caps l and I! together with the disc 20 and bar 29 for a small arc, determines the movement of the ends 3| in the slots 2|, and this movement is accomplished by the rotation of the edge 21; while the tightening of the caps on the spout 5 as well as raising the bar 29 upward against the upper edge of the slot ends 24, which not only secures the cap device on the spout, but also forbids ready release of the caps and bar from the spout, even when the nut I3 is loosened.

I will case-harden certain parts, such as the rotary plate 31, the nut I3, when found desirable.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a cap and lock mechanism for tanks, a

tubular intake spout having an inturned and spaced flange concentric therewith, said flange having a bayonet slot therethrough, a flanged cap member fitting over said spout and having a central opening, a lock bolt insertable in said opening, a cross member secured on the inner end of said bolt and having an extended end laterally engaging in said slot for looking or unlocking the cap, and means engaging said bolt to raise the said bolt member into said slot to lock the cap on said tubular spout.

2. A cap and lock mechanism for tanks, comprising a tubular intake spout having an inturned flange concentric and integral therewith, said inturned flange having a bayonet slot therein in a plane transverse of the flange, a flanged cap member fitting over said spout flange and having a central opening, a threaded lock bolt mounted on said cap member and loosely insertable in said opening, a lock nut threaded upon said bolt outside said cap member, and a locking mechanism secured on the inner end of said bolt and including a cross bar having an extended end to laterally engage said slot for preventing disengagement of the cap from the spout, when the nut engages said bolt to lift the same and bar against the edge of the slot.

3. A cap and lock device for tanks comprising a tubular intake spout attached at one end to a liquid container and having an inturned flange concentric therewith at the other end of said spout, a cap member fitting over said spout flange and having a central opening, a lock bolt insertable through said opening, a lock nut threaded on the bolt between the cap and a fixed outer end of the bolt, and a cross member within the capmember and fixedly secured to the inner end of the bolt, the protruding ends of said cross member having means for engagement with said spout flange by relative rotation of the cross member and flange, an engageable polygonal surface on said nut for actuation by a wrench rotatably relative to the bolt and cross member, for tightening the cap member upon the spout, and the ends of the cross member against the spout flange.

4. A cap and lock mechanism for tanks, comprising a tubular intake spout attached at one end to said tank and having an inturned flange concentric therewith, said flange having a plurality of bayonet slots therethrough in opposed relation to each other, a flanged cap member fitting over said spout flange and having a central opening, a lock bolt insertable in said opening, a disc secured upon the outer end of said bolt, a lock nut threaded upon said bolt between said disc and the cap member, and a locking mechanism secured on the inner end of said bolt and including a cross bar having extended ends to laterally engage each of said slots for locking the cap member upon said spout by relative rotation of the lock nut upon the lock bolt to raise the bar against the slot edges.

5. A cap and lock device for tanks comprising a metal tube attached at one end to a container and having an inturned flange concentric and integral therewith, the flange and outer tube being spaced and cylindrical at the other end, a cap member fitting over said tube flange and having a central opening, a threaded lock bolt and axially insertable in said opening, a plurality of spaced elongated slots provided in a substantially horizontal plane in said flange, a disc fixed upon the outer end of said bolt, a lock nut threaded upon said bolt between said disc and the cap member, a cylindrical disc secured on the inner end of said bolt and within the tube flange, and adapted to be locked in engagement with said tube flange by tightening the said nut, and a cross member within the tube flange and mounted on said cylindrical disc and having extended ends to fit the several slots of the flange, for tightening the cap member against the metal tube.

6, A cap and lock mechanism for tanks, comprising a metal tube attached at one end to said tank, and having an inner flange having a transverse bayonet slot therein, a cap member fitting over said flange and having a central opening,*& lock bolt and a lock nut threaded upon said bolt mounted by insertion of the bolt in said opening, a cylindrical disc secured on the inner end of said bolt and adapted to be locked by tightening the lock nut on the bolt, and a cross member within the flange and secured upon said disc and having an extended end to fit said slot of the flange, when the cap member and cross member are rotated upon the tube, and means for actuating said nut in rotation upon the bolt for lifting the latter and, for tightening the cap against the metal tube.

7. In cap and lock mechanism for tanks, comprising a tubular intake spout having one end attached to a tank and the other provided with an inturned flange concentric and integral therewith, said flange being cylindrical and having a bayonet slot in a transverse plane, a flanged cap member having a central opening and fitting over the flanged end of the spout, a threaded lock bolt insertable in said opening and having an enlarged disc on its outer end fixedly, a lock nut threaded on the bolt between the cap and the disc, and locking mechanism mounted on the inner end of said bolt and including a cross bar laterally extended at one end to enter said slot to avoid undesired disengagement of the cap from the spout, and to lock the cap upon the open end of the flanged spout by relative rotation of the said lock nut upon the lock bolt.

E. 0. YOUNG. 

